The sports world erupted Thursday in response to the bombshell report of an NBA player and coach being arrested by the FBI in connection to illegal gambling.

That incident, described in a federal indictment unsealed on Thursday in Brooklyn, now sits at the center of one of the most sweeping sports gambling cases ever brought by the US Justice Department — one that stretches from locker rooms to underground poker clubs controlled by New York’s biggest mafia families.

The FBI announced a massive sports gambling bust. The suspects include an NBA player, a hall of fame head coach, and mafia families. Suspects are accused of rigging poker games and basketball bets.

NEW YORK >> The high-profile arrest of NBA insiders this week has highlighted the potential risks posed by the close relationship the four major North American men’s sports leagues have cultivated with legalized betting in the United States.

Damon Jones, who played for the Houston Cougars in the 90s, was among those named in an alleged illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information.

Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was charged for allegedly conspiring in a plot to lure poker players into games with marked cards and high-tech cheating, fleecing the marks out of a total of at least $7 million. The crooked card games were allegedly run by organized crime families.

The studio show, featuring Taylor Rooks and four recent ex-pros, has room to improve. But Amazon Prime's NBA broadcast was top of class.

There is a level of confusion right now in the league office because the NBA feels it is doing enough diligence, education and security to prevent these embarrassing missteps that add more scrutiny into its association with the betting world.